Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Molo Cost of Living Comparison Between Nairobi and Molo

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $765 in Nairobi versus $509 in Molo.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,287 in Nairobi versus $843 in Molo.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,810 in Nairobi versus $1,176 in Molo.

Living in Nairobi is roughly 50% more expensive than in Molo, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Nairobi 43% lower, Molo 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.52 KES 714

$5.51 KES 713

0.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$38.37 KES 4,960

$39.20 KES 5,067

-2.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.64 KES 858

$6.87 KES 888

-3.35%

Cappuccino

$2.38 KES 307

$2.45 KES 316

-2.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 KES 95.8

$0.72 KES 92.7

2.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 KES 69.9

$0.54 KES 69.5

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 KES 298

$2.27 KES 294

1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 KES 371

$2.87 KES 370

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 KES 113

$0.92 KES 119

-5.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 KES 74.0

$0.57 KES 73.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.59 KES 206

Eggs

$1.70 KES 220

$1.68 KES 217

1.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.67 KES 1,509

$11.53 KES 1,490

1.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.67 KES 862

$6.85 KES 885

-2.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.73 KES 740

$5.46 KES 706

4.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.06 KES 395

$3.14 KES 406

-2.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 KES 141

$1.07 KES 138

1.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.14 KES 277

$2.14 KES 276

Tomato (1kg)

$1.01 KES 130

$1.06 KES 137

-4.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 KES 132

$1.03 KES 133

-0.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 KES 146

$1.12 KES 145

0.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 KES 89.4

$0.65 KES 83.4

6.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 KES 104

$0.81 KES 105

-1.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KES 393

Wine (Bottle)

$11.38 KES 1,470

$11.71 KES 1,514

-2.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 KES 288

$2.22 KES 287

0.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.69 KES 347

$2.68 KES 346

0.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KES 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$30.47 KES 3,938

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.59 KES 206

$1.50 KES 194

6.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.51 KES 195

3.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.98 KES 385

$2.83 KES 366

5.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 KES 203

$1.59 KES 206

-1.26%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.7K KES 2.8M

0.06%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.0K KES 2.6M

$20.2K KES 2.6M

-1.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$34.46 KES 4,454

$34.40 KES 4,447

0.17%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.09 KES 2,208

$17.11 KES 2,211

-0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.70 KES 5,132

$39.29 KES 5,078

1.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.08 KES 5,439

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.47 KES 2,646

Cinema Ticket

$6.09 KES 787

$6.28 KES 812

-3.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$203 KES 26.3K

$202 KES 26.1K

0.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,007 KES 1.0M

$7,932 KES 1.0M

0.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$18.51 KES 2,393

$18.28 KES 2,363

1.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.13 KES 3,119

$24.43 KES 3,157

-1.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.8 KES 8,377

$66.2 KES 8,560

-2.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.0 KES 7,363

$57.0 KES 7,361

0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 KES 58.8K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$183 KES 23.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,109 KES 143.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$427 KES 55.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,535 KES 198.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$898 KES 116.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$440 KES 56.8K

$390 KES 50.4K

12.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

14.84

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nairobi: July 28, 2026

Last update for Molo: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Nairobi pays 13% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Nairobi vs $39.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $207 per month, with Nairobi cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Nairobi vs Molo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Molo is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Nairobi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Nairobi pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $765 per month in Nairobi versus $509 in Molo – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $509 in Molo versus $765 in Nairobi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Molo but tight or insufficient in Nairobi. The gap between the two cities makes Molo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Molo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nairobi, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Nairobi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.